Migrating songbirds recalibrate their magnetic compass daily from twilight cues

Cochran, William W.; Mouritsen, Henrik; Wikelski, Martin

Migrating songbirds recalibrate their magnetic compass daily from twilight cues

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Date

2004

Authors

Cochran, William W.

Mouritsen, Henrik

Wikelski, Martin

Publication type

Journal article

Published in

Science ; 304 (2004), 5669. - pp. 405-408. - ISSN 0036-8075. - eISSN 1095-9203

Abstract

Night migratory songbirds can use stars, sun, geomagnetic field, and polarized light for orientation when tested in captivity. We studied the interaction of magnetic, stellar, and twilight orientation cues in free-flying songbirds. We exposed Catharus thrushes to eastward-turned magnetic fields during the twilight period before takeoff and then followed them for up to 1100 kilometers. Instead of heading north, experimental birds flew westward. On subsequent nights, the same individuals migrated northward again. We suggest that birds orient with a magnetic compass calibrated daily from twilight cues. This could explain how birds cross the magnetic equator and deal with declination.

Subject (DDC)

570 Biosciences, Biology

Cite This

ISO 690

COCHRAN, William W., Henrik MOURITSEN, Martin WIKELSKI, 2004. Migrating songbirds recalibrate their magnetic compass daily from twilight cues. In: Science. 304(5669), pp. 405-408. ISSN 0036-8075. eISSN 1095-9203. Available under: doi: 10.1126/science.1095844

BibTex

@article{Cochran2004-04-16Migra-16702,
  year={2004},
  doi={10.1126/science.1095844},
  title={Migrating songbirds recalibrate their magnetic compass daily from twilight cues},
  number={5669},
  volume={304},
  issn={0036-8075},
  journal={Science},
  pages={405--408},
  author={Cochran, William W. and Mouritsen, Henrik and Wikelski, Martin}
}

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